From: How can developing countries harness biotechnology to improve health?
Africa | India | Eastern Mediterranean | Latin America and the Caribbean | Western Pacific/Southeast Asia |
---|---|---|---|---|
-Establish a regional network to foster sustained inter-sectoral dialogue - Commission African capacity survey in genomics-related R&D to determine areas of strength - Undertake a detailed study of R&D models with demonstrated success in the developing world - Establish seven regional research centres of excellence | - Improve industry-academic interface with appropriate incentives to improve public health and the nation's wealth - Establish an internet-based opinion leaders' network to foster cross-sectoral dialogue | - Provide coordination and networking among national biotechnology bodies and coordinators to exchange information, expertise, and training - Regional cooperation in production and utilization of health biotechnology - Coordinate a national survey/inventory/situation analysis/needs assessment of health biotechnology innovation systems, including scientific and management capacity, government policies, legislation and regulations, intellectual property policies, private sector activity, and strengths/weaknesses, opportunities and threats - Encourage academic institutions to include health biotechnology topics within their curricula and create specialized programs and degrees where appropriate. There should be particular emphasis on ICT and bioinformatics | - Conduct a study both to document system's strengths in genomics and biotechnology and also to determine the needs which can be addressed by these disciplines - Educate and prepare the necessary human resources in genomics and biotechnology - Seek help and advice from institutions in other countries in the region that have had a successful experience in this endeavor -Develop mechanisms of regional cooperation to harness genomics and biotechnology for both health and economic development - Harness the potential of Latin America and the Caribbean in genomics and biotechnology to improve health for the population of the region - Build on existing networks so as to avoid duplications and redundancies - Encourage the participation of researchers, government officials, members of the private sector, members of civil society, and any other relevant stakeholders - Address local health needs - Should not only pursue pure research but also applied problem solving investigation and product development - Facilitate learning - A strategy and a plan of action should be built at the regional level in order to promote the creation of international, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and multi-institutional projects | - Seek development funds from national, regional and international sources - Perform foresight exercises, including prioritization, needs assessment and action plan - Facilitate linkages between government, academia, NGO's, civil society, researchers, the health system and industry - Build capacity and share core facilities - Develop joint training programs - Identify existing genomics/biotechnology capacity including trained personnel, equipment, etc. in all public and private sectors - Build essential core research facilities linked to local needs - Develop training programs for different personnel categories - Integrate genomics/biotechnology in curricula beginning at a primary level to postgraduate levels |